The Global Mining Development Report 2026 says China’s latest exploration push
produced significant gains, sharply increasing mineral reserves; China now ranks
first globally in reserves for 14 minerals. Oil and gas exploration has expanded
into deep and deep‑sea areas, creating new growth poles. Mining production and
smelting/processing scale remain the world’s largest, consolidating China’s
industry leadership: output of more than 30 metallurgical products is top
worldwide, and 17 mineral products account for roughly 50% of globally mined
output. The report says this makes China both a major mineral producer and a
leading global supplier in smelting and processing.
